Treason case: Musharraf served with bailable arrest warrant

Musharraf now has two options, either to be arrested or post the Rs2.5 million bail bond.


Web Desk February 03, 2014
Bailable warrants for former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf were issued on Friday. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Former president General Pervez Musharraf was served with an arrest warrant on Monday, two days after they were issued by a special court formed to try him, Express News reported.

Police on Monday journeyed to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), armed with the bailable warrant for Musharraf.

A special court constituted to try Musharraf for high treason had issued a warrant on Friday, carrying a bail bond of Rs2.5 million. The court had also ordered the Islamabad police to submit a compliance report to the court on February 7.

Since the start of the trial, Musharraf has not appeared before the court. The proceedings against him started late December last year.

The 70-year-old retired general is currently hospitalised at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi. He was rushed to the AFIC and admitted there exactly a month ago, after he complained of chest pain en route to the court.

Inspector General of Islamabad Police Sikandar Hayat confirmed to The Express Tribune on Saturday that police had received the bailable arrest warrant from the court. Hayat said a police officer from the force will now serve the warrant to Musharraf.

“He [Musharraf] will be given two options: either to be arrested or to submit a surety bond for his bail,” the police chief said.

COMMENTS (36)

Syed Ahmed | 10 years ago | Reply

Bow down in front of the rule of law - it is jungle rule. Late Benazir Bhutto Ex-Prime Minster of Pakistan had correctly described the Pakistani courts as “Kangroos Courts” and lately Asma Jehangir has seconded her. In such a situation justice in Musharraf’s case is far fetched. If justice is intended than the judges of the special court who are unwelcome by the defense must resign from bench. Musharraf did not Abrogate, nor Subvert the Constitution in Oct 1999 nor in Nov 2007. He enforced Emergency in both cases. On 3rd Nov 2007, the constitution was held in Abeyance, meaning, temporarily deferred, a state of temporary disuse or suspension or put aside temporarily. Original Article 6, operative in 2007, is not attracted. The amended Article 6, which incorporates “held in Abeyance” has no retrospective effect therefore it cannot to applied on Musharraf. If his act of suspending certain articles of the constitution is considered as treason, than the politicians in the driving seat commits treason frequently and deliberately. In one of the TV talk shows, Barrister Muhammad Akram Sheikh Public Prosecutor clearly admitted that Musharraf acted clever and did not abrogate the constitution but held it in abeyance. He also admitted that 18th amendment have no retrospective effect. The phrase "held in abeyance" was inserted in Article 6 (1) through 18th amendment in the original Article 6 therefore it is not attracted in Musharraf's case, He has not committed treason. The angles, NS and AAZ whose cases are pending since many years should be tried first, Musharraf may also present himself for trial before honourable court, in the view of Asma.

moin | 10 years ago | Reply

The fact of the matter is that with each passing day Musharraf is approaching closer to his logical end. The foremost points that the Law is taking it’s own course without external dictates. First the Musharraf’s lawyer tried to implicate the entire Army command but he failed to incite subversion from the prestigious institution. Then he kept clamoring, with his loud voice, for help from the West/Saudi but failed. He tried to scandalize the judiciary but failed once again. The maximum that Musharraf can do is to keep hiding in the hospital at Taxoayers expense. At last, he has no choice but to bow down in front of the rule of law because the doctrine of necessity is buried forever. Long Live Pakistan!

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